Allergy
According to the World Health Organization, allergy is the fourth disease of importance in the world, in terms of numbers of affected individuals. Allergic reactions are excessive immune system responses that react in the absence of a true threat. The reaction is considered “excessive” because the immune system’s proper role is to respond to foreign substances. For example, pollen does not represent a true harm to the body, unlike pathogenic germs. In theory, environmental substances may cause allergic responses. According to a careful estimate, 20,000 environmental substances are recognized as an allergen.
The immune system makes it possible to remove disease causing substances such as viruses, bacteria, fungus, and tumor cells from our bodies. The antigen is a substance considered foreign by the immune system: it activates the immune system and reacts to the foreign substances. When this immune reaction is exaggerated or inappropriate, the antigen is considered an allergen. Allergens are identified by the body as being an adversary used to emit an allergic response. The body has two ways of responding to this allergy: production of antibody (humoral immunity) or sensitizing cells such as lymphocytes (cellular immunity).
In a simpler manner, we may consider that our body is protected from external forces by two ways: the skin and mucous membrane. These two interfaces are remarkably different. This explains why the allergies have various ways of expression.
Allergy occurs when physiological barriers (the interface) are broken: in this case, one speaks about “passive immunity.” It is important to understand its importance because restoring this passive immunity would “treat” the clinical signs of the allergy.
Like any immune reaction, allergens must initially be identified by the body as being an adversary in order to emit an allergic reaction. Allergies are specific. The majority of allergens are proteinic substances of vegetative or animal origin. Some examples of allergens include pollen from flowers, acarinas, and mold.
According to Combs and Gell, there are four types of hypersensitivity reactions which are characterized by time from symptom appearance and nature of immunizing elements (antibodies or T lymphocytes).
Hypersensitivity of Type I (anaphylactic) and II (cytotoxic) are allergies caused by antibodies. Hypersensitivity of Type III (semi-delayed) are caused by antigen-antibody complexes and the hypersensitivity of type IV (delayed) are caused by lymphocytes.
The immune system makes it possible to remove disease causing substances such as viruses, bacteria, fungus, and tumor cells from our bodies. The antigen is a substance considered foreign by the immune system: it activates the immune system and reacts to the foreign substances. When this immune reaction is exaggerated or inappropriate, the antigen is considered an allergen. Allergens are identified by the body as being an adversary used to emit an allergic response. The body has two ways of responding to this allergy: production of antibody (humoral immunity) or sensitizing cells such as lymphocytes (cellular immunity).
In a simpler manner, we may consider that our body is protected from external forces by two ways: the skin and mucous membrane. These two interfaces are remarkably different. This explains why the allergies have various ways of expression.
Allergy occurs when physiological barriers (the interface) are broken: in this case, one speaks about “passive immunity.” It is important to understand its importance because restoring this passive immunity would “treat” the clinical signs of the allergy.
Like any immune reaction, allergens must initially be identified by the body as being an adversary in order to emit an allergic reaction. Allergies are specific. The majority of allergens are proteinic substances of vegetative or animal origin. Some examples of allergens include pollen from flowers, acarinas, and mold.
According to Combs and Gell, there are four types of hypersensitivity reactions which are characterized by time from symptom appearance and nature of immunizing elements (antibodies or T lymphocytes).
Hypersensitivity of Type I (anaphylactic) and II (cytotoxic) are allergies caused by antibodies. Hypersensitivity of Type III (semi-delayed) are caused by antigen-antibody complexes and the hypersensitivity of type IV (delayed) are caused by lymphocytes.
An allergy is caused by foreign substances (allergens) which are in the immediate environment of the allergic person.
Allergens most frequently encountered are:
- Air allergens:
- In the case of pollen, spring allergies (at the end of April and May) are often caused by pollen from the trees. Allergies of the summer (at the end of May and mid-July) are often caused by pollen from grass and other harmful plants. Pollen from flowers tends to fly into the air and does not usually cause allergies because it is heavier than air;
- Mold seeks moisture. This is why you would often find mold on the curtains of showers, wet basements, and around the edges of windows. You may also find it in hay, mulch, dead leaves, etc. This form of allergy is exacerbated during humidity periods and rain;
- Dead skin and pet hair (danders) are allergen substances. You may be exposed to these allergens when you handle animals or inhale dust which may contain pet hair (danders);
- Dust is an allergen just as acarinas. These microscopic insects live in beds, mattresses, carpets and pieces of furniture. They like places that are hot and wet, nourishing upon dead skin and other substances which are found in house dust;
- Food allergens include corn, milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, nuts, sesame, fish, shellfish and sulfites;
- Other types of allergens such as: drugs, latex, insect venom (bees, wasps, mosquitoes.
